An Affront Catholics Agree On [Liberal and Conservative Catholics Against Obama Mandate]

LATimes ^ | February 05, 2012 | Charlotte Allen

[Steelfish]

OP-ED An Affront Catholics Agree On Liberal and conservative Catholics don't agree on much, but they're both outraged by a new rule on contraception coverage.

A Jan. 20 rule issued by the federal Department of Health and Human Services requires almost all private health insurance plans to provide coverage for all U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved prescription contraceptives.

Health plans would also have to offer female sterilization as yet another preventive service. Companies would have to cover these things fully, with no co-pay for the patient. (Los Angeles Times)

By Charlotte Allen February 5, 2012

Ever since the closing of the Second Vatican Council in 1965, conservative and liberal Roman Catholics have been deeply divided over church teachings, many of them concerning marriage and sexual matters.

Those who are more conservative would like to see the teachings remain in place, while liberals would like to see drastic changes.

Now, suddenly, after decades of internecine bickering, liberals and conservatives among Catholics have joined forces on an issue. Strangely enough, it involves artificial birth control, one of the sorest points between the two factions.

Specifically, a wide cross-section of liberal and conservative Catholics have united in opposition to a Jan. 20 rule issued by the federal Department of Health and Human Services as part of the implementation of "Obamacare."

The rule requires almost all private health insurance plans to provide coverage for all U.S. Food and Drug Administration-approved prescription contraceptives. Health plans would also have to offer female sterilization as yet another "preventive service."

Companies would have to cover these things fully, with no co-pay for the patient. The penalty for employers who purchase health plans that don't comply with the rule is about $2,000 per employee.

[Salvation]

**Companies would have to cover these things fully, with no co-pay for the patient. The penalty for employers who purchase health plans that don’t comply with the rule is about $2,000 per employee.**

And this would include employers such as Catholic hospitals, church staffs, etc.

I bet all of this goes to the supreme court and gets knocked down.

[STJPII]

Ping

[Salvation]

Many are speaking out against this -- so far 170 Bishops -- so I don't have them all YET -- LOL!

An Affront Catholics Agree On [Liberal and Conservative Catholics Against Obama Mandate]
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‘We Will Not Comply’: Catholic Leaders Distribute Letter Slamming Obama Admin Contraceptive Mandate
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A letter from Archbishop Dennis M. Schnurr concerning HHS edict

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Catholic doctors’ group launches petition against contraception mandate
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[Steelfish]

That’s an impressive list. Thanks

[Honorary Serb]

Now the Assembly of (all) Canonical Orthodox Bishops of North and Central America—NOT just the usual Orthodox pro-life “suspects”—are adding their voices to those who oppose the HHS diktat!!!!

http://assemblyofbishops.org/news/releases/protest-against-hhs

Despite the consistent 2,000-year pro-life ethos of the Orthodox Church, many Orthodox, from laity to bishops, have been reluctant to “get into politics”. But with the dictatorial obama administration working to forcefully impose the culture of death and to stifle religious liberty, silence is NOT an option!!!!

[RobbyS]

The funny thing is that social justice Catholics have been down-playing the abortion issue so they would be free to administer to the poor and disadvantaged. Now Obama threatens to force them to abandon that mission. We will see what their choice will be.

[Joe Boucher]

And still a majority of Catholics as well as Jews will support and vote for obammy.

[Campion]

Doubt it. He only got 54% of (self-identified) Catholics last time. He's going to lose more than that 4% over this issue alone.

But, while we're there, let's please note that Mittens is not much better on these issues.

[Joe Boucher]

Which way is da wind blowing mitt?

[newberger]

This is NOT a Catholic issue.

This is a human rights issue.

This reeks of pure totalitarianism!

Obama has declared open war on freedom of conscience and freedom of religion.

No one who cares about these things (even if they were pro-choice — and I most certainly am not) needs to take a stand against Obama here.

This isn’t even a conservative / liberal divide. It is a fundamental attack on the Constitution.